A declaration of Christ and of his office compiledA declaration of Christe and of his offyce compylyd

Caput V.

The second office of Christ is to pray and to make intercession for his people. This office Johan writeth ⟨image 27⟩of in his first epistle, if any man sin we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ that maketh intercession for us. And as Paule saythe. Christus qui mortuus est, imo qui & suscitatus, qui etiam est ad dexteram dei, qui & intercedit pro nobis, in his name and in the believe and confidence of his meritis we may obtain the mercies of god and life ever lasting as Paul say the▪ Accedamus cum fiducia ad tronum graciae, ut consequamur misericordiam & gratiam inueniamus ad oportunum auxilium, Ebre. 4. this intercession of Christ only sufficeth no man should seek any other mediator of intercession or expiation of sin as Paul saith declaring the sufficiency and ability of Christs death and intercession Christus manet in aeternum, perpetuum habens sacerdocium: Unde & saluos facere ad plenum potest qui per ipsum adeunt deū ⟨image 27⟩semper uivus ad hoc ut interpellet pro illis. Unto this intercession and prayer in Christs name he bound his church by express commandment. Petite & accipietis. Ask and it shall be given you. and in the same place he showeth the cause wherefore it shall be given. Quicquid petieritis patrem in nomine meo, dabit uobis, What so ever ye ask in the believe and confidence of my merits it shall be given unto you saint Paul, calleth Christ Sitting at the right hand of god the minister and servant of the saints to say of such as be here living in this troubled and persecuted church to solicit and do all there affairs as a faithful Ambassador with the father of heaven until the consummation of the world this doctrine of Christs intercession must be all ways diligently preached unto the people, and like wise that in all necessities calamities ⟨image 28⟩and trouble the afflicted person to sick none other means to offer his prayers unto God but Christ only according as the scripture teacheth, and as we have example of holy saints in the same. Not only in the new testament were as he commandeth us to pray in his name, and Stephen in his martyrdom, Acto. 7. commended his spirit unto this only mediator saying domine Jesus: Accipite Spirituū meum, But also in the old Testament thus prayed the patriarchs and Prophets Jacob, Gē. 48. benedicat pueris istis Deus & Angelus qui eripuit me de cunctis malis. & David